Sealable product containment bag

ABSTRACT

A sealable product containment bag structure is described that includes generally rectangular shaped front and rear panels and pleated generally rectangular side panels connected to the front and rear panels, the front, rear and side panels forming at one end thereof an open top for the bag structure and being folded together at the other end thereof to form a closed bottom. In one embodiment of the invention, adhesive layers are disposed in confronting relationship to each other on the inner surfaces of the front and rear panels near the open top end of the bag, and respectively covered by a protective strip, whereby, after the protective strips are removed, the adhesive layers adhere to each other and to the inner surfaces of the side panels when the side panels are folded inwardly in a closed condition for the bag structure.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The current application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.12/042,770, filed Mar. 5, 2009.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to shopping bags or the like andmore particularly to a sealable product containment bag for containingan item such as a gift item, retail sales item, a fast food or carryoutrestaurant item, or other product.

BACKGROUND

Retail sales establishments, fast food and carryout restaurants andother retailers use various sizes, shapes and kinds of bags to assistthe customer in containing, transporting, protecting and preservingpurchased goods, food and other products purchased by the customer.Additionally, gift bags of various sizes and types are in wide use forcontaining a gift for a gift-giving occasion and are frequently used inplace of gift wrap paper.

Gift bags in current use are typically substantially rectangular inshape with an open top for receiving an item and generally have handlesattached at each side of the top opening. Although it is desirable toconceal a gift item within the gift bag, bags in general current useprovide no means to sealably close the opening so as to conceal the itemcontained in the bag. Similarly, bags in current use for containing fastfoods or other consumables procured at a fast food or carryoutrestaurant provide no means to securely enclose an item so as topreserve freshness or to provide hot or cold insulation.

SUMMARY

The present invention relates to a sealable product containment bagstructure comprising:

(a) generally rectangular confronting front and rear panels, each ofsaid front panel and said rear panel having an inner surface and anouter surface;

(b) pleated generally rectangular side panels interconnecting said frontand rear panels, each of said side panels having an inner surface and anouter surface, said inner surfaces of said front, rear and side panelsdefining a generally rectangular volumetric shape;

(c) said front, rear and said side panels defining a top opening for thebag structure at a first end of said panels, said front, rear and sidepanels folded together at a second end of said panels to form a closedbottom for the bag structure;

(d) each of said side panels having pleats whereby said side panels arefoldable inwardly between said front and rear panels in a closedcondition for the bag structure; and

(e) a first adhesive strip disposed on the inner surface of said frontpanel along the width thereof near said first end of said front panel,and a second adhesive strip disposed on the inner surface of said rearpanel along the width thereof near said first end thereof, said secondadhesive strip disposed in confronting relationship with said firstadhesive strip, whereby said adhesive strips adhere to each other alonga middle portion of said adhesive strips and adhere to the innersurfaces of said side panels along the end portions of said adhesivestrips with said side panels folded inwardly in said closed condition.

The invention also relates to a sealable product containment bagstructure comprising:

(a) generally rectangular confronting front and rear panels, each ofsaid front panel and said rear panel having an inner surface and anouter surface;

(b) pleated generally rectangular side panels interconnecting said frontand rear panels, each of said side panels having an inner surface and anouter surface, said inner surfaces of said front, rear and side panelsdefining a generally rectangular volumetric shape;

(c) said front, rear and said side panels defining a top opening for thebag structure at a first end of said panels, said front, rear and sidepanels folded together at a second end of said panels to form a closedbottom for the bag structure;

(d) each of said side panels having pleats whereby said side panels arefoldable inwardly between said front and rear panels in a closedcondition for the bag structure;

(e) each of said front and rear panels including a marginal extension inthe form of a closure flap at said first ends of said front and rearpanels; and

(f) an adhesive strip disposed on the inner surface of at least one ofsaid closure flaps along the width of said opening and in confrontingrelationship with the inner surface of the other said closure flap,whereby said closure flaps adhere to each other in said closedcondition.

The invention further relates to a sealable product containment bagstructure comprising

(a) generally rectangular confronting front and rear panels, each ofsaid front panel and said rear panel having an inner surface and anouter surface;

(b) pleated generally rectangular side panels interconnecting said frontand rear panels, each of said side panels having an inner surface and anouter surface, said inner surfaces of said front, rear and side panelsdefining a generally rectangular volumetric shape;

(c) said front, rear and said side panels defining a top opening for thebag structure at a first end of said panels, said front, rear and sidepanels folded together at a second end of said panels to form a closedbottom for the bag structure;

(d) each of said side panels having pleats whereby said side panels arefoldable inwardly between said front and rear panels in a closedcondition for the bag structure;

(e) one of said front and rear panels including a marginal extension inthe form of a closure flap at said first end of said one of said frontand rear panels; and

(f) an adhesive strip disposed on the inner surface of said closure flapalong the width of said opening, said closure flap foldable over saidopening and sealable to the outer surface of the other of said front andrear panels in said closed condition.

The invention overcomes the deficiencies in previously available gift orshopping bag structures as suggested above, by providing a productcontainment bag structure having a sealable adhesive closure at the topof the bag structure so that a product, gift, or other item can besealably contained inside the bag. The sealable gift bag embodiment ofthe invention can be securely closed in order to conceal the itemcontained in the bag, the use of which can eliminate the need for a moreexpensive gift box or gift wrapping. Because the shopping bag of theinvention can be sealed, such as at the point of retail sale, additionalsecurity benefits are provided in that an item contained in the bag issubstantially protected from being taken from the purchasersurreptitiously, and, additionally, other items cannot easily beinserted into the bag after it is sealed. Further, the adhesivecomprising the closure structure of the bag top opening can be selectedto render the bag reclosable. In one or more of the embodiments of theinvention a substantially tight seal at the top opening of the productcontainment bag may be accomplished, which helps to preserve freshnessof consumable products contained in the bag. Further, for embodiments ofthe product containment bag structure comprising insulating materials,hot or cold items such as might be purchased at a food market or fastfood or carryout restaurant can be insulated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be more clearly understood from the followingdetailed description of representative embodiments thereof read inconjunction with the accompanying drawings that form a part of thisdisclosure, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bag structure representative of theinvention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the bag structure of FIG. 1 as viewedgenerally from the bottom of the bag.

FIG. 3 is an end view of the bag structure of FIG. 1 in the foldedcondition.

FIG. 4 shows the upper portion of the FIG. 1 bag structure in apartially closed condition.

FIG. 5 shows the upper portion of the FIG. 1 bag structure in asubstantially fully closed condition.

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the bag structure representative offurther embodiments of the invention with respect to the top opening andadhesive closure structure.

FIG. 7 shows a view of the top portion of the bag structure of FIG. 6illustrating an adhesive closure structure embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 shows a view of the top portion of the bag structure of FIG. 6illustrating another closure structure embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a perspective view a bag 10structure representative of one embodiment of the invention. FIG. 2 is aperspective view of the bag 10 of FIG. 1 as viewed generally from thebottom of bag 10. It is noted at the outset that a highly usefulapplication of the invention is as described herein as a gift bag forsealably concealing a gift item as a surprise for a recipient on a giftgiving occasion. However, the invention in one or more of theembodiments described herein can find use as a shopping bag, productcontainment at point of retail sale, containment (including insulatedcontainment) for fast food, or other use as would occur to the skilledartisan guided by these teachings.

Bag 10 comprises a generally rectangular structure having a front panel11 and back panel 12 and side panels 13 and 14 defined by folded corners15, 16, 17 and 18, each of said front, back and side panels havingrespective outer surfaces and inner surfaces defining an interior volume20 for receiving a gift, food item, retail sales item or other product.The panels 11, 12, 13 and 14 define an opening 19 at a first end of thestructure providing access to the interior volume 20 of bag 10 forinserting items therein. Side panels 13 and 14 are creased respectivelyas at folding lines 13 a, 13 b, and 13 c (see FIG. 2) and at foldinglines 14 a, 14 b and 14 c (see FIG. 1) and one of the front or backpanels 11 or 12 is creased such as at 11 a in order facilitate theinwardly folding of sides 13 and 14 to the folded condition suggested inFIG. 3. Bottom panel 22 defines a closed end for bag 10 at the secondend of the bag structure opposite to opening 19.

Bag 10 and other embodiments of the invention as described herein may beformed of substantially any sheet materials customarily used in themanufacture of gift or shopping bags for retail use, such materialsincluding cloth fabrics, plastics, paper, or materials for hot or coldinsulation, or others, the same not considered limiting of theinvention. In forming bag 10 using sheet material, a piece ofsubstantially rectangular material is formed into the generallyrectangular volumetric shape as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 by folding asat corners 15 to 18, and joined as at 24 using an adhesive insubstantially conventional fashion. The bottom 22 of bag 10 can then beclosed to the configuration suggested in FIG. 2 by inwardly foldingportions of the bottom ends of sides 13 and 14 to the form of gussets 27and 28 and then folding together base panels 30 and 31 of respectivefront panel 11 and back panel 12 and joining as at 32 using an adhesive,tape (including decorative tape) or other joining means.

Reference is now made additionally to FIG. 4 that shows a partial view(upper portion) of bag 10 as suggested in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 folded to apartially closed condition. In accordance with one aspect of theinvention, strips of pressure sensitive (e.g., non-hardening) adhesivelayers 41 and 42 are disposed on the inner surfaces respectively offront panel 11 and back panel 12 near the upper end of bag 10 nearopening 19. Adhesives that can be typically used in any of theembodiments of the invention as described herein include any of thepressure sensitive adhesives or cohesive-adhesive systems, or otherconventional adhesive as would occur to the skilled artisan practicingthe invention as taught herein, the specific adhesive selected notconsidered limiting of the invention or of the appended claims.Protective removable (peel-off) strips 43 and 44 of paper, plastic orother material are disposed over respective adhesive layers 41 and 42 toprotect the adhesive prior to an intended use of bag 10. The protectivestrips may be removed and the upper end of bag 10 folded substantiallyas suggested in FIG. 4 and closed as at opening 19 by joiningconfronting adhesive layers 41 and 42 to form a sealed closure 45 assuggested in FIG. 5. In the sealed closure 45, end portions of each ofthe adhesive layers 41 and 42 adhere to inner surfaces of the upper endsof side panels 13 and 14 in the folded-in condition shown in FIG. 5. Byselecting an adhesive for the adhesive layers in the structure of bag 10that is releasable, the bag may be reusable.

In a further aspect of the invention, adhesive layers 48 and 49 aredisposed on side panels 13 and 14 near the top of the bag 10 structureas suggested in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the layers 48 and 49 havingrespective removable protective strips 50 and 51 thereon similarly tothe structures of adhesive layers 41 and 42. Adhesive layers 48 and 49can provide additional closure seal to the folded-in portions of sidepanels 13 and 14 in the folded condition suggested in FIG. 5.

In yet another aspect of the invention, handles 62 and 63 may beattached in any conventional manner to the outer or inner surfaces ofpanels 11 and 12, such as suggested in FIG. 5, in order to provide aconvenient means for carrying bag 10.

Referring now to FIG. 6, shown therein is a perspective view of a bag 70structure representative of further structural embodiments of theinvention for the top opening and adhesive closure. The bottom view ofbag 70 is substantially the same as that displayed for bag 10 in FIG. 2.Bag 70 comprises a generally rectangular structure having a front panel71 and back panel 72 and side panels 73 and 74 defined by folded corners75, 76, 77 and 78, each of said front, back and side panels havingrespective outer surfaces and inner surfaces defining an interior volume80 for receiving a gift, food item, retail sales item or other productsimilarly to that for bag 10 of FIG. 1. The panels 71, 72, 73 and 74define an opening 79 at a first end of the structure providing access tothe interior volume 80 of bag 70 for inserting items therein. Sidepanels 73 and 74 are creased respectively as at folding lines 73 a, 73b, and 73 c (not shown in FIG. 6) and at folding lines 74 a, 74 b and 74c shown in FIG. 6. One of the front or back panels 71 or 72 is creasedsuch as at 71 a in order facilitate the inwardly folding of sides 73 and74 similarly to that shown for bag 10 in FIG. 3. The bottom panel of bag70 defines a closed second end for bag 70 opposite to opening 79. Bag 70may be fabricated substantially as described in relation to FIG. 2 forbag 10.

With further reference now to FIG. 6, one or both of panels 71 and 72can include marginal extensions in the form of substantially similarconfronting closure flaps 81 or 82. FIG. 7 illustrates an embodimentincluding both closure flaps 81 and 82, and FIG. 8 illustrates anembodiment using only one closure flap, such as in the example shown,closure flap 82.

With further reference now specifically to FIG. 7 in conjunction withFIG. 6, shown is a partial view (upper portion) of bag 70 folded to aclosed condition. In accordance with this aspect of the invention,strips of pressure sensitive (preferably non-hardening) adhesive layers91 or 92 are disposed on the inner surface of at least one of closureflaps 81 and 82. Protective removable (peel-off) strips 93 and 94 ofpaper, plastic or other material are disposed over respective adhesivelayers 91 and 92 similarly to that described for bag 10 of FIG. 1. Theprotective strips may be removed and the upper end of bag 7 foldedsubstantially as suggested in FIG. 7 and closed as at opening 79 byjoining confronting adhesive layers 91 and 92 to form a sealed closure96 as suggested in FIG. 8.

With further reference now specifically to FIG. 8, shown is a partialview (upper portion) of a second form of bag 70 having one closure flap82 folded to a closed condition. In this aspect of the invention, flap82 having a strip of pressure sensitive adhesive layer 92 is folded overthe top of panel 71 and sealed to the outer top surface of panel 71 toform the desired releasable seal 96 (FIG. 8).

In a further aspect of the invention, and with reference again to FIG. 1and FIG. 6, a containment bag of the invention may include on the outersurfaces thereof pictures, drawings, printing or other decorativeindicia 60 or other printed matter relating to the type of productenclosed, such as might be appropriate for enclosing a gift incelebration of a holiday, birthday, new-born event, or any othergift-giving event. Alternatively, indicia 60 may comprise a retailadvertisement in the use of the invention as a shopping bag or fast foodcontainer or other use.

The invention therefore provides a sealable product containment bagstructure. It is understood that modifications to the invention may bemade as might occur to one with skill in the field of the inventionwithin the scope of the appended claims. All embodiments contemplatedhereunder that achieve the benefits of the invention have therefore notbeen shown in complete detail. Other embodiments may be developedwithout departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope ofthe appended claims.

1. A sealable product containment bag structure comprising: (a)generally rectangular confronting front and rear panels, each of saidfront panel and said rear panel having an inner surface and an outersurface; (b) pleated generally rectangular side panels interconnectingsaid front and rear panels, each of said side panels having an innersurface and an outer surface, said inner surfaces of said front, rearand side panels defining a generally rectangular volumetric shape; (c)said front, rear and said side panels defining a top opening for the bagstructure at a first end of said panels, said front, rear and sidepanels folded together at a second end of said panels to form a closedbottom for the bag structure; (d) each of said side panels having pleatswhereby said side panels are foldable inwardly between said front andrear panels in a closed condition for the bag structure; (e) a firstadhesive layer disposed on the inner surface of said front panel alongthe width thereof near said first end of said front panel, and a secondadhesive layer disposed on the inner surface of said rear panel alongthe width thereof near said first end thereof, said second adhesivelayer disposed in confronting relationship with said first adhesivelayer; and (f) removable protective strips respectively disposed oversaid first and second adhesive layers.
 2. The bag structure of claim 1wherein said adhesive layers comprise a pressure sensitive adhesive. 3.The bag structure of claim 2 wherein the said adhesive is selected torender said adhesive layers resealable.
 4. The bag structure of claim 1wherein said front, rear and side panels comprise a material selectedfrom the group consisting of paper, cloth fabric and plastic.
 5. The bagstructure of claim 4 wherein said material is insulated.
 6. The bagstructure of claim 1 further comprising a handle attached to each ofsaid front and rear panels.
 7. The bag structure of claim 1 whereinfront, rear and side panels are adhesively joined at said second ends ofsaid panels to form said closed bottom for the bag structure.
 8. The bagstructure of claim 1 wherein said removable protective strips arecomprised of one or more materials taken from a group consisting ofpaper and plastic.
 9. A sealable product containment bag structurecomprising: (a) generally rectangular confronting front and rear panels,each of said front panel and said rear panel having an inner surface andan outer surface; (b) pleated generally rectangular side panelsinterconnecting said front and rear panels, each of said side panelshaving an inner surface and an outer surface, said inner surfaces ofsaid front, rear and side panels defining a generally rectangularvolumetric shape; (c) said front, rear and said side panels defining atop opening for the bag structure at a first end of said panels, saidfront, rear and side panels folded together at a second end of saidpanels to form a closed bottom for the bag structure; (d) each of saidside panels having pleats whereby said side panels are foldable inwardlybetween said front and rear panels in a closed condition for the bagstructure; (e) each of said front and rear panels including a marginalextension in the form of a closure flap at said first ends of said frontand rear panels; (f) an adhesive layer disposed on the inner surface ofat least one of said closure flaps along the width of said opening andin confronting relationship with the inner surface of the other saidclosure flap, whereby said closure flaps adhere to each other in saidclosed condition; and (g) a removable protective strip disposed oversaid adhesive layer.
 10. The bag structure of claim 9 wherein saidadhesive layer comprises a pressure sensitive adhesive.
 11. The bagstructure of claim 10 wherein the said adhesive is selected to rendersaid adhesive layer resealable.
 12. The bag structure of claim 9 whereinsaid front, rear and side panels comprise a material selected from thegroup consisting of paper, cloth fabric and plastic.
 13. The bagstructure of claim 12 wherein said material is insulated.
 14. The bagstructure of claim 9 further comprising a handle attached to each ofsaid front and rear panels.
 15. The bag structure of claim 9 whereinfront, rear and side panels are adhesively joined at said second ends ofsaid panels to form said closed bottom for the bag structure.
 16. Thebag structure of claim 9 wherein said removable protective strip iscomprised of one or more materials taken from a group consisting ofpaper and plastic.
 17. A sealable product containment bag structurecomprising: (a) generally rectangular confronting front and rear panels,each of said front panel and said rear panel having an inner surface andan outer surface; (b) pleated generally rectangular side panelsinterconnecting said front and rear panels, each of said side panelshaving an inner surface and an outer surface, said inner surfaces ofsaid front, rear and side panels defining a generally rectangularvolumetric shape; (c) said front, rear and said side panels defining atop opening for the bag structure at a first end of said panels, saidfront, rear and side panels folded together at a second end of saidpanels to form a closed bottom for the bag structure; (d) each of saidside panels having pleats whereby said side panels are foldable inwardlybetween said front and rear panels in a closed condition for the bagstructure; (e) one of said front and rear panels including a marginalextension in the form of a closure flap at said first end of said one ofsaid front and rear panels; (f) an adhesive layer disposed on the innersurface of said closure flap along the width of said opening, saidclosure flap foldable over said opening and sealable to the outersurface of the other of said front and rear panels in said closedcondition; and (g) a removable protective strip disposed over saidadhesive layer.
 18. The bag structure of claim 17 wherein said adhesivelayer comprises a pressure sensitive adhesive.
 19. The bag structure ofclaim 17 wherein said front, rear and side panels comprise a materialselected from the group consisting of paper, cloth fabric and plastic.20. The bag structure of claim 19 wherein said material is insulated.21. The bag structure of claim 17 further comprising a handle attachedto each of said front and rear panels.
 22. The bag structure of claim 17wherein front, rear and side panels are adhesively joined at said secondends of said panels to form said closed bottom for the bag structure.23. The bag structure of claim 17 wherein said removable protectivestrip is comprised of one or more materials taken from a groupconsisting of paper and plastic.
 24. A sealable product containment bagstructure comprising: (a) generally rectangular confronting front andrear panels, each of said front panel and said rear panel having aninner surface and an outer surface; (b) pleated generally rectangularside panels interconnecting said front and rear panels, each of saidside panels having an inner surface and an outer surface, said innersurfaces of said front, rear and side panels defining a generallyrectangular volumetric shape; (c) said front, rear and said side panelsdefining a top opening for the bag structure at a first end of saidpanels, said front, rear and side panels folded together at a second endof said panels to form a closed bottom for the bag structure; (d) eachof said side panels having pleats whereby said side panels are foldableinwardly between said front and rear panels in a closed condition forthe bag structure; (e) a first adhesive layer disposed on the innersurface of said front panel along the width thereof near said first endof said front panel, and a second adhesive layer disposed on the innersurface of said rear panel along the width thereof near said first endthereof, said second adhesive layer disposed in confronting relationshipwith said first adhesive layer; (f) removable protective stripsrespectively disposed over said first and second adhesive layers; and(g) a handle attached to each of said front and rear panels; (h) saidadhesive layers comprising a pressure sensitive adhesive; (i) saidfront, rear and side panels comprising a material selected from thegroup consisting of paper, cloth fabric and plastic; (j) said front,rear and side panels being adhesively joined at said second ends of saidpanels to form said closed bottom for the bag structure; and (k) saidremovable protective strips comprising of one or more materials takenfrom a group consisting of paper and plastic.